Quality of Life in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease

Objectives: The present study investigated quality of life (QOL) in a German sample of adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) in association with clinical and sociodemographic variables.

Methods: Patient reported outcome measures on demographic and clinical variables were retrospectively analyzed in a representative sample of 4,015 adults with almost all forms of CHD (41.8 ± 17.2 years; 46.5% female). QOL was assessed using the EQ-5D-5L. Associations of QOL with clinical and sociodemographic variables were quantified using multiple regression analysis and multiple ordinal logit models.

Result: ACHD indicate a good QOL comparable to German population norms. In ACHD, problems occurred most frequently in the dimensions of pain or discomfort and anxiety or depression. QOL differed significantly within diagnostic subgroups, with pretricuspid shunt lesions indicating the most significant impairments. Older age, female sex, medication intake, and the presence of comorbidities were associated with significant reductions in QOL. CHD severity was positively associated with QOL.

Conclusion: ACHD experience a good QOL regardless of their disease severity. However, specific subgroups require additional psychological support to cope with disease-related challenges. The negative correlation of QOL with age is especially alarming as the population of ACHD is expected to grow older in the future. Increased attention should be directed toward the subjective wellbeing of these patients.

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
21. Februar 2021